Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy

Manufacturing Industries: Research

Lord Jones: To ask His Majesty's Government what is their policy towards research grants in the manufacturing industry.

Lord Callanan: UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) are the largest public funder of research. UKRI supports businesses, including in the manufacturing sector, to innovate and grow. For example, through the Made Smarter Innovation Challenge which helps manufacturers capitalise on new digital technologies. The Catapult Network, which receives some funding from BEIS through Innovate UK, supports businesses across multiple sectors in research and innovation. Over half of the £1.2 billion funding provided to the Catapult Network for the current 5-year period ending in March 2023 is allocated to the High Value Manufacturing Catapult which supports industry to develop new manufacturing technologies.

Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Lord Taylor of Warwick: To ask His Majesty's Government what plansthey have to establish local climate resilience funds to help reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Lord Callanan: Through the local Government core settlement, grant funding schemes, and UK growth funding, the Government is enabling local areas to tackle net zero goals in ways that best suit their needs.

Manufacturing Industries: Research

Lord Jones: To ask His Majesty's Government how much was given in research grants to the (1) steel industry, (2) aerospace industry, and (3) chemical industry, in (a) 2018, and (b) 2021.

Lord Callanan: The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy does not hold the requested information. Government innovation funding is generally not allocated on a sector-by-sector basis, but is instead targeted towards specific research questions. Many research, development and innovation programmes support multiple sectors, including UK Research and Innovations’s Transforming Foundation Industries Challenge, which includes support for R&D initiatives within the chemicals and metals manufacturing sectors. The Government also invested £685 million of funding the over three years to support green aerospace technology through the Aerospace Technology Institute (ATI) Programme.

Department for Education

Pupils: Internet

Lord Taylor of Warwick: To ask His Majesty's Government which authority pays for the cost of providing a free internet connection for school pupils.

Baroness Barran: The government is working with commercial providers to accelerate gigabit capable broadband rollout to schools, alongside a joint £82 million investment from the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport and the Department for Education to enable all schools to have access to a high-speed connection by 2025.Building on the £30 million investment made available in 2021 for the Connect the Classroom pilot programme, we are investing up to a further £150 million to upgrade schools that fall below our Wi-Fi connectivity standards in priority areas. By upgrading school Wi-Fi connectivity, teachers and schools can make the most of the benefits that digital technology can have in the classroom.Whilst the department is investing to fix the basics, schools’ technology, including internet service provision, is managed from their central budgets, and schools have the autonomy to decide how this resource is spent so that they can prioritise their individual needs.For internet connectivity for pupils at home, the government has provided support for over 130,000 families to get online through increases in mobile data and 4G wireless routers, since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. This included partnering with the UK’s leading mobile operators to provide free data to help over 33,000 disadvantaged children get online and delivering over 100,000 4G wireless routers for pupils without connection at home.If a family is struggling to afford the cost of internet access, there are affordable tariffs available from some telecom providers. These tariffs reduce the cost of staying online and may help families that might not be able to meet standard broadband contract terms.

Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office

Phillipines: Journalism

Lord Hylton: To ask His Majesty's Government what representations they are making to the government of the Philippines regarding (1) the recent murders of journalists Percival Mabasa and Renato Blanco in that country, and (2) the harassing of other journalists by accusations of criminal libel; and if they are not making such representations, why not.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: The UK promotes media freedom in the Philippines, and urges the Philippine authorities to investigate reports of harassment and crimes against journalists. With the Media Freedom Coalition, we have commented publicly on press freedom in the Philippines, including on the charges against Rappler Chief Executive Officer Maria Ressa, and the killing of Percival Mabasa. On 26 October, the British Ambassador called for those responsible for Percival Mabasa's death to be brought to justice. We raise human rights regularly with the Government of the Philippines. The British Ambassador raised this with the Executive Secretary on 19 October 2022. The former Foreign Secretary raised this in November 2021.

Tigray: Armed Conflict

The Lord Bishop of Coventry: To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to end the reported bombardmentby Eritrean and Ethiopian forces of civilian targets in the Rama, Adigrat, and Shire areas of Tigray.

Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park: There have been multiple reports of civilian casualties due to airstrikes and artillery fire, and the death of yet another humanitarian worker. We have urged all parties to the conflict to prioritise the lives of ordinary people by agreeing to an immediate cessation of hostilities and guaranteeing humanitarian access to all parts of northern Ethiopia. We have also urged the Eritrean Government to withdraw its forces from Tigray. Our Embassies in Addis Ababa and Asmara have pressed these points with the Ethiopian and Eritrean Governments, and the former Minister for Development did so with Ethiopian Deputy Prime Minister Demeke on 19 October while visiting Ethiopia.

Pakistan: Nuclear Weapons

Lord Blencathra: To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the remarks by the President of the United States of America in which he stated that Pakistan is "one of the most dangerous nations in the world" for having "nuclear weapons without any cohesion".

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: Nuclear security and safety around the world are issues of vital importance and we raise them regularly with international partners including Pakistan. Pakistan is an important partner in building regional security and we hold a regular counter-proliferation dialogue with them as part of the UK's international commitment to the preservation of effective international arms control, disarmament and non-proliferation.

Ministry of Defence

Air Force: Republic of Ireland

Baroness Hoey: To ask His Majesty's Government what agreements they have made, if any, with the government of Ireland to allow the RAF to provide cover within the Republic of Ireland’s airspace.

Baroness Hoey: To ask His Majesty's Government how many times in the last year RAF squadrons have been scrambled to escort Russian aircraft out of Irish airspace.

Baroness Hoey: To ask His Majesty's Government what was the annual cost to the RAF of supporting the government of Ireland in the protection of their airspace.

Baroness Hoey: To ask His Majesty's Government what is the cost to the RAF of supporting the Irish government in the protection of their Air Space.

Baroness Goldie: I am withholding any response to questions on sovereign airspace access and associated regulations, as these should be for the nation in question to answer; therefore any further questions on Irish airspace should be directed to the Government of Ireland.

Department for Work and Pensions

Social Security Benefits

Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle: To ask His Majesty's Government what estimate they have made of the total saving to His Majesty's Treasury through (1) housing benefit subsidy, and (2) Universal Credit, of imposing a social housing rent cap at less than the usual level of Consumer Price Index plus one per cent.

Baroness Stedman-Scott: The Government recently consulted on whether to make a temporary amendment to the CPI+1% cap on annual social housing rent increases. The consultation closed on 12 October and the government is carefully considering the responses. Any decision to change the CPI+1% cap would subsequently be reflected in the fiscal forecasts (including of Universal Credit and Housing Benefit expenditure) that are published by the Office for Budget Responsibility, and the more detailed breakdowns of these expenditure forecasts that are published by DWP.

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Food Supply

Baroness Jones of Whitchurch: To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to avoid food shortages this winter arising from water shortages and rising energy costs.

Lord Benyon: The United Kingdom has a highly resilient food supply chain, as demonstrated throughout the COVID-19 response. It is well equipped to deal with situations with the potential to cause disruption. Our high degree of food security is built on supply from diverse sources, strong domestic production as well as imports through stable trade routes. The United Kingdom’s consumers have access through international trade to food products that cannot be produced here, or at least not on a year-round basis. This supplements domestic production, and also ensures that any disruption from risks such as adverse weather or disease does not affect the UK's overall security of supply. Defra has well established ways of working with the industry and across HM Government to monitor risks that may arise. This includes extensive, regular and ongoing engagement in preparedness for, and response to, issues with the potential to cause disruption to food supply chains.

Home Office

Migrants: Employment

The Lord Bishop of Durham: To ask His Majesty's Government how many individuals on 3C leave have been wrongly suspended from or denied employment due to delays in Home Office employment verification checks in (1) 2020, (2) 2021, and (3) 2022.

Lord Murray of Blidworth: The information is not available publicly and could only be obtained at a disproportionate cost.

Home Office: Departmental Responsibilities

The Lord Bishop of Durham: To ask His Majesty's Government whether they intend to appoint a Minister for Refugees.

Lord Murray of Blidworth: Ministerial appointments are a matter for Cabinet Office. The Immigration Minister is responsible for safe and legal routes to the UK.

Detention Centres

The Lord Bishop of Durham: To ask His Majesty's Government what is the estimated cost of reopening (1) the Campsfield House immigration removal centre in Kidlington, Oxfordshire, and (2) the Haslar immigration removal centre in Gosport, Hampshire.

Lord Murray of Blidworth: As set out in the Prior Information Notice published on 21 September, the current estimated operating costs for Campsfield and Haslar immigration removal centres (IRC) for the lifetime of the 8 year contract will be £170 million and £229 million respectively. In addition to the operating costs, there are also costs associated with the refurbishment and new build of the sites.The early cost estimates for Campsfield House IRC range between £90 and £100 million. The early cost estimates for Haslar IRC range between £150 and £160 million. These estimates exclude any potential inflation, optimism bias and contingency estimates.The actual costs will only be known once the contractors have been appointed, and more detailed designs are established, but the approach being taken will ensure that value for money is prioritised.

British Nationality: Assessments

Lord Rosser: To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer byLord Sharpe of Epsom on 21 September (HL2171),what plans they have to provide data in a reportable format on the number of test centres delivering tests each month.

Lord Murray of Blidworth: Information on the number of test centres administering Life in the UK tests each month and the number of Life in the UK tests sat each month in 2019 – 2022 is not available in a reportable format There are 38 Life in the UK test centres in the UK. The number of test centres delivering tests in a particular month varies in line with demand. If no tests have been booked at a particular centre, the centre will remain closed. Customers are given the option to book an appointment at all 38 test centres during the appointment booking process.The number of tests taken each quarter in relation to citizenship and settlement applications can be found here Visas and Citizenship data: Q2 2022 - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk).

British Nationality: Assessments

Lord Rosser: To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer byLord Sharpe of Epsom on 21 September (HL2176), why the Home Office bookletAN: Naturalisation Booklet: The Requirements and the Process, published on 28 June,states that individuals must wait at least seven days between tests if this is not a formal requirement and only advisory; whether applicants were instructed they must wait at least seven days since November 2005; and whether there are other requirements in that booklet stating what customers must do that is not required and only advisory.

Lord Murray of Blidworth: We amended Booklet AN in early September to show that a person “should”, rather than “must” wait seven days before taking the test again. This is recommended to allow someone to reflect on areas they need to prepare better for or develop. The booklet sets out the statutory requirements that those applying for citizenship must meet. They must provide evidence of how they meet the requirements or, where that is not possible, give reasons why the Secretary of State might exercise discretion in their favour.

British Nationality: Assessments

Lord Rosser: To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer byLord Sharpe of Epsom on 21 September (HL2244), what checks they made to ensure questions about the UK's membership in the EU and information about the EU was removed from all Life in the UK tests; what plans they made to ensure test applicants with third edition handbooks published between 28 January 2013 to 31 January 2020 are made aware this information is not tested; and what other information in the original test handbook published in January 2013 has been removed.

Lord Murray of Blidworth: PSI deliver the Life in the UK test on behalf of the Home Office. In September 2019 PSI conducted a review of all test material to identify any questions relating to the EU, and these were retired from all Life in the UK tests by 31st October 2019. The Stationery Office (TSO) produce the Life in the UK handbooks and related study materials. A review was conducted of these materials to identify all references to the EU. An errata slip was produced to accompany handbook stock on sale from January 2020 which clarified the amendments and digital versions updated. In summer 2020 “Third edition. Twenty First impression 2020 (with amendments)” handbook was printed with identified references to the EU removed. The Home Office works closely with TSO to ensure the handbook remains up to date and factually accurate.

British Nationality: Assessments

Lord Rosser: To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer byLord Sharpe of Epsom on 20 September (HL2243), how many unannounced inspections are planned each month since restarting; whether any test centres have been closed because of an inspection's findings; and (3) whether any test centre staff have been dismissed because of an inspection's findings.

Lord Murray of Blidworth: There are currently three audits planned. There is no fixed schedule of audits, they are tasked by both the Home Office and the supplier and Home Office audits can be either announced or unannounced. There have been no test centre closures or staff dismissals as a result of any audit visits.

Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities

Sleeping Rough: Migrants

The Lord Bishop of Durham: To ask His Majesty's Government whether the ‘exhaust all options’ approach, as outlined in the Rough Sleeping Strategy, includes supporting individuals to have their No Recourse to Public Funds conditions lifted through a ‘change of condition’ application.

Baroness Scott of Bybrook: We recognise that rough sleepers with restricted eligibility for homelessness assistance, including individuals with a No Recourse to Public Funds (NRPF) condition, face particular challenges moving away from the streets.  The Rough Sleeping Strategy committed to building on our expectation that local authorities exhaust all options to support this group.   This may include supporting individuals with leave under the family and human rights routes who are destitute, at risk of destitution, the welfare of their child is at risk due to their low income or there are other exceptional financial circumstances, to apply, for free, to have their NRPF condition lifted by making a 'change of conditions' application to the Home Office.

Rented Housing: Cost of Living

The Lord Bishop of Chelmsford: To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they plan to take to ensure that rent remains affordable given the increased cost of living; and when they plan to introduce the Renters Reform Bill.

Baroness Scott of Bybrook: The Government understands the pressures people are facing with the cost-of-living crisis and that paying rent is often a tenant's biggest monthly expense.Ensuring a fair deal for renters remains a priority for the Government. Legislation will be announced in the usual way.

Affordable Housing: Standards

The Lord Bishop of Chelmsford: To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of raising the threshold at which affordable housing quotas apply, from developments of 10 houses to developments of (1) 40, and (2) 50 houses, on the creation of affordable housing stock.

Baroness Scott of Bybrook: In August 2020, HMG consulted on raising the threshold at which affordable housing contributions are required from 10 units to 40 or 50 units. This was proposed as part of the 'Changes to the Current Planning System'.The analysis undertaken at the time was reported as part of the consultation.A decision was taken in April 2021 not to take forward the proposal at that stage. We keep this situation under review but the reasons that applied in our decision not to proceed in 2021 remain powerful.

Housing: Construction

The Lord Bishop of Chelmsford: To ask His Majesty's Government whether they remain committed to building 300,000 homes per year.

Baroness Scott of Bybrook: Housebuilding is a priority for this Government. As the Secretary of State has said, we remain committed to continuing our progress towards our target of 300,000 homes a year, as set out in the 2019 Conservative manifesto.

Northern Ireland Office

Economic Growth: Northern Ireland

Lord Hay of Ballyore: To ask His Majesty's Government what recent discussions they have had with ministers in the Northern Ireland Executive on economic growth and development.

Lord Caine: Northern Ireland benefits enormously from the strength and security provided by being an integral part of the UK - the world’s sixth largest economy. The UK Government has regular discussions with Northern Ireland Executive ministers on a range of topics, including economic growth and development. The UK Government continues to work to boost economic growth in Northern Ireland, including through the allocation of £400 million funding under the New Deal for Northern Ireland, in the ongoing £617 million City and Growth Deal programme, and through allocations of the Levelling Up Fund and the upcoming UK Shared Prosperity Fund. However, as economic development is a devolved matter, it is vital that a restored Northern Ireland Executive and locally accountable ministers are in place to take the decisions that will drive economic growth in Northern Ireland.

Economic Growth: Northern Ireland

Lord Browne of Belmont: To ask His Majesty's Government what recent discussions they have had with Northern Ireland ministers regarding economic growth and development.

Lord Caine: Northern Ireland benefits enormously from the strength and security provided by being an integral part of the UK - the world’s sixth largest economy. The UK Government has regular discussions with Northern Ireland Executive ministers on a range of topics, including economic growth and development. The UK Government continues to work to boost economic growth in Northern Ireland, including through the allocation of £400 million funding under the New Deal for Northern Ireland, in the ongoing £617 million City and Growth Deal programme, and through allocations of the Levelling Up Fund and the upcoming UK Shared Prosperity Fund. However, as economic development is a devolved matter, it is vital that a restored Northern Ireland Executive and locally accountable ministers are in place to take the decisions that will drive economic growth in Northern Ireland.

Treasury

Alcoholic Drinks: Excise Duties

Lord Pendry: To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the remarks by the Chancellor of the Exchequer on 17 October regarding the changes to alcohol duty (HC Deb col 396), what steps they are taking to protect the alcohol industry given the increased cost of living.

Baroness Penn: On 17 October, the Chancellor announced a reversal of the freeze of alcohol duty rates from 1 February 2023, initially announced in the Growth Plan on 23 September. The Government understands that many businesses are worried about the rising cost of living, including businesses within the alcohol industry. The alcohol duty uprating decision and interactions with the wider reforms to alcohol duties will be considered in due course.

Income Tax

Lord Moylan: To ask His Majesty's Government what estimate they have made of the reduction in income tax receipts that would result per annum from restoring the Personal Allowance to those earning over £100,000 a year.

Baroness Penn: The Government does not publish this information. For individuals with income above £100,000, the Personal Allowance (PA) is withdrawn gradually, with £1 of allowance lost for every £2 of income above the income limit of £100,000. This reduction continues until the PA is completely withdrawn for those with incomes above £125,140. The total income tax liability for those earning above £100,000 is published online in Table 2.5 of HMRC’s income tax liabilities statistics. For the 2022-23 tax year, this is estimated at £123 billion, almost half of the estimated income tax revenue for this year.  As with all aspects of the tax system, the Government keeps the withdrawal of the PA under review and any decisions on future changes will be taken by the Chancellor in the context of the wider public finances.

Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport

National Heritage Memorial Fund: Stonehenge

Baroness Jones of Moulsecoomb: To ask His Majesty's Government when the National Heritage Memorial Fund grant of £800,000 was awarded to the National Trust for ensuring the protection of archaeology at Stonehenge; and when the grant was paid to the National Trust.

Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay: The board of the National Heritage Memorial Fund supported the National Trust’s application for a £800,000 grant for the acquisition of 168 hectares of land at Stonehenge, including the land known as Bow Tie Field, at its meeting in February 2020. The grant was paid to the National Trust in two tranches, in September 2020 and March 2021.

National Heritage Memorial Fund: Stonehenge

Baroness Jones of Moulsecoomb: To ask His Majesty's Government what were the terms of the National Heritage Memorial Fund (NHMF) grant of £800,000 to the National Trust for the acquisition of over 170 hectares of land at Stonehenge, including the land known as Bow Tie Field.

Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay: The National Heritage Memorial Fund (NHMF) has been awarding grants to safeguard the UK’s most important heritage since 1980. As a fund of last resort, NHMF has helped save thousands of the country’s most-loved treasures from being lost forever.The grant of £800,000 to the National Trust for the acquisition of land at Stonehenge, including the land known as Bow Tie Field, was a time-limited opportunity to secure 168 hectares of land containing 61 archaeological sites, including a substantial part of the Stonehenge Avenue, all under extreme risk of loss due to ploughing. Expert advice to NHMF reflected that if the purchase did not go ahead Scheduled Monuments on the site would be lost completely within 10 years.The acquisition by the National Trust will enable the restoration of chalk grassland, a priority lowland habitat, achieving significant biodiversity and nature conservation benefits. It will also enable permissive open access for the first time to this part of the Stonehenge landscape.The £800,000 grant was awarded to the National Trust using the National Heritage Memorial Fund's standard terms of grant as set out on the NHMF's website.

Internet: Children

Lord Pendry: To ask His Majesty's Government whether it is still their policy that children’s safety remains the priority of the Online Safety Bill.

Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay: The strongest protections in the Online Safety Bill are to keep children safe online. To achieve this, the Bill will require all companies that are in scope to take robust steps to protect children from illegal content and activity on their services. In addition, services which are likely to be accessed by children will be required to provide safety measures for child users to protect them from inappropriate and harmful content or activity, such as pornography and bullying. If they fail to do so, they will be subject to tough enforcement action by the regulator, Ofcom.